Every Christmas, it’s inevitable that someone wishes that the holiday spirit could last all year long. Here in the Lakes Region, the ‘Christmas in July’ Boat Parade in Naples has become a beloved tradition and revives the magic of the holiday season when it’s most needed.
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| Participants easily find the holiday spirit during last year's 'Christmas in July' boat parade in Naples. This year's event will start at dusk on Saturday, July 20 and the parade route includes Long Lake, the Naples Causeway and Brandy Pond. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
Harbor Master Shawn Hebert of Naples Marine Safety said it’s tough to know in advance how many boats will participate in this year’s parade.
“The first few years we averaged between 48 and 62 boats,” he said. “Last year we only had 18. We attribute that to the amount of rain we received last summer. It is our hope we can get as many boats as we can to put on a great event.”
Hebert said the parade is a fundraising event to the Naples Marine Safety Association with members donating their time and efforts to put this event on.
“All of the sponsorship donations and any donations raised help purchase needed equipment, tools or specialized training that we would not be able to obtain through our annual operating budget,” he said. “This parade was developed during the height of COVID. It was a means of bringing members of the community together even when we needed to social distance. Over the years this parade has taken on a life of its own. We are seeing business participation, spectator participation on shore as well as ever increasing spectators watching the event from the shoreline, causeway or from a boat. In the midst of summer, this event brings people together, businesses prosper and just an overall feeling of joy.”
According to Hebert, the long-term benefits of the event help bolster the local economy.
“We see spectators coming out early to the venue,” he said. “Before they set up their seats, they are going to a local restaurant or ice cream parlor and even purchasing merchandise from local vendors. It is our goal for this event to help bolster our association’s mission but to also bolster the local Naples economy.”
Joanne Jordan is serving as a volunteer and committee member helping to organize this year’s boat parade.
“This event is unique for this area. There are other boat parades around the country, but the Naples Causeway provides a unique opportunity for this to happen in fresh water with a beautiful viewing area that allows the boats to get up close to the crowds when going under the causeway or visiting one of the waterfront businesses,” Jordan said. “The event is free for boaters to participate and free to watch. It creates a feeling of joy for both groups. We have been lucky to have talented music producers create a fun atmosphere for the crowd while waiting for the boats to arrive and when the boats reach the crowd, everyone is excited, and everyone feels like a kid at Christmas.”
She said anticipation for the parade in the community is always fun to watch.
“Every year the momentum builds. Many of our marina sponsors compete for the best decorated marina boat and some of the local shops and restaurants have started decorating their businesses with lights and trees and blow-up characters. Safety is key for this event so much of the committee's time is spent on route and boater safety. This year members of the Naples Marine Safety made up 800 packets with the information on the parade, and how to register, and dropped them in boats on Brandy Pond and Long Lake to encourage boaters to participate. Of course, letting the community be aware of when and where it is happening is key so they can enjoy the festivities and patronize our sponsors.”
Jordan said staging a parade on the water is interesting and challenging.
“Standard parades are able to close the streets and keep spectators in a safe viewing area,” she said. “We cannot close the waterway and the people who watch from their boats can create a challenge. We have not had any serious issues and have designated people along the route communicating with boat spectators.”
Friendly competition between the marinas makes the annual event special, Jordan said.
“One of our past marina boat winners is vowing to get the trophy back this year. After the parade some of the local kids will come up to me and tell me about their favorite boats,” she said. “Ice cream shops will tell me they had lines down the causeway while waiting for the parade. Restaurant owners on the waterfront say their patrons enjoy having prime seating for the parade while we have one restaurant sponsor not on the water who has sponsored every year just to support the community. People who own waterfront property have started launching fireworks when the parade passes by while other waterfront owners request that we go past their house. We love the enthusiasm of the community but know we can't go around the entire shoreline because of the size of the lakes. Luckily, we have a photographer who volunteers to capture the boats as they approach the causeway so everyone can enjoy the work the boaters put into making this a great event.”
The parade line-up for registered boats begins at 8 p.m. July 20 on Long Lake and the parade is sponsored by Captain’s Club members Brother Flecker’s, Dingley’s Wharf, Freedom Café, Naples Marina, and the Songo River Queen II.
To view the parade route map or to register a boat, visit the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce website at www.sebagolakeschamber.com. <
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